The revolution will be televised: Twitter reveals its big screen ambition

The TV app move signifies a greater focus by Twitter on live video and media partnerships

Coming to a screen near you: Twitter has revealed an app optimised for owners of Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Microsoft’s Xbox One devices.

The move represents a more concentrated foray into streaming video, following in the footsteps Twitter took with Vine and Periscope.

The free apps will feature all live streaming video available on Twitter – including live streams of 10 NFL Thursday Night Football games, as well as content from MLB Advanced Media, NBA, Pac 12 Networks, Campus Insiders, Cheddar and Bloomberg News – and other content, such as top tweets and top global Vines and Periscopes.

‘These devices will bring Twitter’s live streaming video experience to life on the TV screen’– ANTHONY NOTO, CFO, TWITTER

The free apps will become available in markets around the world this week.

The Xbox One app will roll out in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the UK and the US. The Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick versions will only be available in the US and the UK.

The Apple TV app is available globally via the App Store for Apple TV (fourth generation).

Twitter is the newest channel on your TV

Echoing developments that see services like Netflix become just another channel on your TV, Twitter wants to be baked into the TV experience, regardless of whether users have an account or not.

“These devices will bring Twitter’s live streaming video experience to life on the TV screen,” said Anthony Noto, the social media giant’s CFO.

“Twitter has always been a great complement to TV, and now fans can enjoy even more premium video with live tweets — and the best content on Twitter — right from their TVs.

“We’re excited to introduce this new experience to people, without requiring a paywall or having to log in to Twitter.”